Cattle-stanchion



N. LOGAN.

CATTLE STANCHION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1919.

Patentd Apr. 13, 1920.

\NVENTOR Q 0 L 4% m WITNESSES Y E N R o T T A N. LOGAN.

CATTLE STANCHION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, [9.19. 1,336,975. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTO lVsLogafl R NELS LOG-AN, OF ALBERT LEA,

MINNESOTA.

CATTLE-STANCI-IION.

ea ers.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed March 17, 1919. Serial No. 283,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NnLs LOGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albert Lea, in the county of Freeborn and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Cattle-Stanchion, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to cattle stanchions, and its object is to provide a simple and durable stanchion at low cost and which will avoid objectionable features of other stanchions.

In accordance with the invention, the side bars making up the neck yoke of the stanchion terminate in extensions, which may be in the form of castings, each with a lengthwise guiding fin so arranged that the 825- tensions with the fins are embraced by an elongated link which may slide along the n portion of the extensions lengthwise thereof. The extensions of the side bars are also movabletoward and from each other so as to contract or expand the neck yoke as needed.

The yoke members are locked together, when in the closed position, against an liability of spreading by the link but the link may be moved with the greatest ease to release the yoke members when such operation is desirable. The arrangement is such that the cattle cannot accidentally open the yoke, although not positivelylocked, but no impediment is offered to the unlocking or unlatching of the yoke members at will, such yoke members then automatically moving to the open position.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the-following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.-

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation, with some parts broken away and in section, of a cattle stanchion embodying the invention and shown in the closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the upper end of the stanchion with the neck yoke open.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, omitting distant parts.

Fig. 4 is a section entire line .2-4 of Fig. 2, but drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the terminal castings of the neck yoke, some parts being shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a cross section of the link forv connecting. the neck yoke members, the section being taken through the supporting strand of the link. i

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. l, but drawn on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a top bar 1 and a bottom bar 2 constituting a part of the stall construction. The bar I carries, at spaced points, eye bolts 3, in turn carrying short chains 4 or other fiGXl le elements. Each chain 4 carries one member 5 of the neck yoke of a cattle stanchion, which latter may be of customary form and is usually made of pipe. The two members 5 of the neck yoke are connected together at their lower ends by a hinge 6, shown separately in Fig. 8. This hinge comprises two like castings with overlapping ears 7 joined by a pivot pin 8, which pin serves to con nect an eye bolt 9 to the hinge through cars 10. The eye bolt 9 receives one end of a short chain 11, the other end of which is connected to the stall bar 2.

The upper end of each yoke member forming a socket is entered which is hollow by a stud 12 on one end of a casting 13 constituting a continuation or extension of the yoke member 5, which continuation for a portion of its length, indicated at l l, is of round or similar cross section intermediately bent providing a curved part and a straight part so that when the neck yoke members are moved toward each other until in substantially parallel relation, the yoke is then in the closed position. Each casting 13 has a fin continuation 15 on the side thereof remote from the other casting, such fin continuation being of flat cross section and serving both as a guide and a strengthening fin. The upper end of the fin projects beyond the rounded portion 14 of the casting and at its outer end is provided with a passage or perforation 16, and at a less distance from the end of the rounded portion 1% carries a transverse pin 17. The chains l are connected to the fins 15 by rivets 18, or other suitable fastening means, traversing the perforations 16.

There is also provided an elongated link 19 which may likewise be a casting of channel form, closed at the ends and relatively fiat. The link could be made of bar metal but the channel form is preferable since it combines strength with lightness.

At the mid-portion of the link there is located an enlargement 20 which may be continued to the full thickness of the link and be somewhat wider and is also provided with handle members 21 projecting on opposite sides of the enlargement. The intermediate portion 20 serves as a division between the extremities of the link, thereby providing two oppositely directed longitudinal slots 22 extending from the intermediate enlargement 20 to the end portions of the link. Where the slots 22 terminate at the enlargement 20 they have expansions 23 each of a size and shape to receive the rounded portions or enlargements 14: of the castings 13. The thickness of the link is such that the link may find lodgment between the upper ends of the rounded portions or enlargements 14E and the pins 17, in which position only the fins 15 are then located within the slots 22, the enlargements 14 being entirely withdrawn from traversing relation to the link.

In order to manipulate the link there is provided a cord or cable 2 1 threaded through the enlargement 20 and rising through a perforation 25 in the bar 1 and ultimately engaging a snap hook 26 above the bar 1, said snap hook being under the control of a line 27 which may be considered as extending along a row of stalls. The snap hook 26 provides for connecting as many links 19 to the controlling line 27 as may be desired so that from a single chosen point all the neck yokes may be operated or any less number than the full number may be operated at one time.

If it be assumed that cattle are secured in the stalls with the stanchions encircling the necks and closed, each stanchion will be in the position shown in'Fig. 1, that is, with the extensions 1% of the castings 13 traversing the passages 23 in the link 19, said link 19 resting by gravity upon the shoulders formed at the bends of the extensions 14. In this position of the parts the stanchion members 5 cannot separate because the enlargements orextensions 1%- cannot pull out from the passages 23. Moreover, the chains 4: are brought closer together at their lower ends than at their upper ends, and cons quently the stanchions are correspondingly raised. The cattle cannot loosen the stanchions because there is no way of reaching the links 19 to effect such raising. However, the stanchions are freely supported so that the cattle may move their heads in various directions. Any animal may be released without affecting the others, or all the animals may be simultaneously released, if desired, by lifting one or more or all of the links either by the handles 21 or as a group by the line 27. The link or links 19 when raised are lifted until in engagement with the pins 17, in which position the links are free from the enlargements or extensions 14:, whereupon the weight of the stanchions and the angular position of the chains 4 cause the stanchion members to separate at their upper ends, the fins 15 readily moving along the slots 22 to the outer ends of the latter. As soon as the opening movement has started the line 27 may be released, since the upper ends of the extensions l l are then below the link 19 and the latter cannot again drop into embracing relation to the extensions 1t. The upper position of the stanchion is shown in Fig. 2.

The invention has the advantage over other forms of stanchion locks in that there is a reduction in the amount of material used and no amount of strain upon the stanchion in the event of excitement among the cattle, as, for instance, in the case of fire, will prevent the very ready unlocking of the stanchions to release the cattle, the operation of release being practically without impediment. When the side or yoke members of the stanchion are in the locked position, they have a constant tendency to move to the unlocked or spread position, due to the fact that the chains approach downwardly when the stanchion is in the closed position. Consequently, as soon as the stanchions are released they fall apart by gravity, while the movement of the link to the released position is along straight lines, thus ofiering the least amount of resistance to such movement.

What is claimed is 1. A stanchion having yoke members movable toward and from each other at the upper ends, a single flexible supporting element for each yoke member having a greater spread at its supporting end than at the yoke member when the stanchion is in closed position, thereby imparting to the yoke members a constant tendency to move to the open position and a link for embracing the approached upper ends of the yoke mem bers to hold them in the closed position.

2. A stanchion having yoke members movable toward and from each other at their upper ends, a top bar, an individual flexible suspending element for each yoke member, said elements being hung from the top bar and spread apart a greater distance at their upper ends than at their lower ends where they are connected to the yoke members, when the stanchion is closed, thereby imparting to the yoke members a constanttendency to. move to their open positions, and. a llIllQ encircling the yoke members at theirupper ends and elongated to permit travel of said upper ends between the closed and open positions.

3. A stanchion comprising upright stanchion members movable at their upper ends,

between the open and closed positions of the stanchion, a top support, an individual flexible suspending element for each stanchion member, said elements being hung from the top support and spaced apart at theirupper ends, so as to be substantially pendent when the stanchion is open, and when the stanchion is closed with the upper ends of the stanchion members close together and the suspending. elements approaching toward their lower ends so as to stand on an inclination, thereby exerting a constant force to move the stanchion members to their open position, and holding meansfor the stanchion members along which said stanchion members may move between the open and closed positions.

4. A stanchion having side members with top extensions movable toward and from each other to close and open the stanchion, flexible supporting elements for the stanchion members attached to the extensions at their lower ends, said supporting elements being spaced apart at their upper ends to a greater extent than their spacing at the lower ends when the stanchion is closed, whereby the stanchion is raised and the supporting elements inclined when the stanchion is closed, so as to impart to the side members a constant tendency to move to the open position, and a link structure engaging about the upper ends of the stanchion members and movable lengthwise thereof, said stanchion members and link having co-. acting portions for holding the stanchion members in the closed position, and said link being movable to release the stanchion members and permit them to open to an extent determined by the length of the link.

5. A stanchion having side members with top extensions movable toward and from each other to close and open the stanchion, flexible supporting elements for the stanchion members attached to the extensions at their lower ends, said supporting elements being spaced apart at their upper ends to a greater extent than their spacing at the lower ends when the stanchion is closed, whereby the stanchion is raised and supporting elements inclined when the stanchion is closed, so as to impart to the side bars a constant tendency to move to the open position, and a link structure engaging about the upper ends of the stanchion members and movable lengthwise thereof, said stanchion members and link having coacting portions for holding the stanchion members in the closedv position, and said link being movable to release the stanchion members and permit them to open to an extent determined by the length of the link, said link having means for raising it from a remote point whereby to release the stanchion members to move to the open position.

6. A stanchion provided with yoke members having top extensions formed with portions of different diameters and said stanchion members being movable toward and from each other for opening and closing the stanchion, and a link structure encircling the extended ends of the stanchion members and having portions with passages of different diameters to receive the similar parts of the stanchion members, whereby the portions of one diameter will cause the stanchion members to beheld in the closed position and the portions of the other diameter will permit the stanchion members to move toward and from the closed position.

7. A stanchion structure comprising stanchion members, each with a prolongation having an enlarged portion for a part of its length and a smaller portion therebeyond, and a link for embracing the extensions of the stanchion members, said link having adjacent passages of a size to receive the larger portions of the stanchion extensions, and elongated openings of a size to receive the smaller portions of the stanchion extensions, whereby the larger portions of the stanchion extensions and the larger openings in the link coact to hold the stanchion closed and the smaller portions of the extensions and the elongated openings in the link permit the separation of the stanchion members to the open position.

8. A stanchion structure comprising stanchion members movable toward and from each other and each having an extension with an enlarged portion for a portion of its length and a small portion therebeyond, and a link embracing the extended portions of the stanchion members, said link having oppositely directed elon gated slots and at the intermediate portion provided with passages for the parts of the stanchion extensions of larger size, whereby the stanchion members are held in the closed position when the extensions of larger size traverse the intermediate passages and the stanchion men'ibers may separate when the parts of smaller size are free to move lengthwise of the slots.

9. A stanchion structure comprising stanchion members movable at their upper ends between the closed and open positions of the stanchions, each member having an extension with a portion of its length of larger diameter and therebeyond formed as a fin, and a link elongated in the direction of moy ement of the stanchion members toward and from each other, said link having oppositely directed slots for receiving the fins on the stanchion members and adjacent passages of a size to receive the enlarged extensions of the stanchion members.

10. A stanchion having yoke members hinged at their lower ends, straight eXtensions provided at their upper ends, a single vertically movable link embracing the said extensions and having a pair of slots through which said extensions are passed, means for bodily raising the link on said extensions, said slots permitting the yoke members to swing outwardly and assume an open position when the link is raised, and locking means provided on the link and extensions to hold said members in their closed position when the link is lowered.

11. A stanchion comprising yoke members hinged at their lower ends and having their upper ends curved inwardly and provided with sockets a casting intermediately bentso as to provide a curved part and a straight part, the curved parts being inserted in the sockets of the yoke members and the straight parts extending outwardly therefrom in substantial parallel relation when the yoke members are closed, means connected to the straight parts for flexibly connecting them to a support, a link having a pair of slots through which the straight parts of said casting are passed, means for raising and lowering the link on the straight parts of the casting, means for limiting said movement of the link, and means for locking the straight parts to the link when the yoke members are in closed position, the slots in the link allowing said straight parts to move laterally when the yoke members move to their open position.

- 12. A stanchion having yoke members movable toward and from each other at their upper ends, a single flexible supporting element for each yoke member having a greater spread at its supported end than at the yoke member when the stanchion is in closed position, thereby imparting to the yoke members a constant tendency to move to the open position, and a movable element for locking the members in their closed position and also form a guide for said members in their movement from one position to another.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NELS LOGAN.

. Witnesses:

ALFRED CHRis'rorHERsoN, C. O. VANGEN. 

